The Bible
is the inspired word of God and sometimes there are things in it that are
questioned because they defy human reasoning. The number of Jews who
exited Egypt with Moses is one of the facts that are questioned like
Noah's Ark, the story of Jonah being swallowed by the sea monster etc. We
do not believe that an exodus population of 2.5 million defies human
reasoning in any way. It is a very believable number.

Israel
was "as the sand on the seashore" when they left Egypt and went
to occupy the promised land. Today 1.5 million Palestinians live in a tiny
corner of the land God promised to give Abraham. It is obvious then, that
at least 2.5 million Hebrews would be needed to fully occupy the entire
promised land, as they did under Joshua in 1406 BC.

We have
reviewed all arguments for the various estimates about exodus population
of the Jews in detail and have come to the conclusion that the Bible is
consistent in its view that there were 600,000 men (excluding women and
children) who left Egypt. We find no reason to question this number for
any reason.

The
Hebrew word for 1000 is "elep" and cannot mean "clans"
in reference to the exodus population numbers.

The
exodus population were sustained by miracles: Pillar of fire provided
light; cloud provided shelter and water (Isa 4:4-6); manna provided food,
their cloths and shoes did not wear out; (Deut 8:4) God gave them
supernatural strength in fleeing Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. See: Miracles of the Exodus
and Red Sea Crossing.

Some feel
that the number of 600,000 men, plus women, children (and flocks) for a
grand total of between 1-2.5 million humans, is too large. Some of these
who question the numbers revealed in the Bible, simply use it as an
opportunity to trash the Bible itself as unreliable and unhistorical.

Some
misguided, but sincere Bible believers seek a lower exodus population
number (about 20,000) by suggesting that "elep" means clans, not
the number "1000". Although they begin with the goal of
defending inspiration of the Bible, they actually end up attacking the
reliability of the textual transmission of the Bible by suggesting many of
the numbers are scribal changes in the both the old and new testaments.
For this reason, it must be rejected. Although "elep" can mean
"clans" in some places, when used in a census, it always means
the number 1000. This is our firm conclusion which preserves both the
inspiration and textual integrity of scripture.

Apion was
an ancient Egyptian who lived about 50 AD. He hated the Jews claimed there
were only 110,000 Jews in the Exodus. Josephus says this number is not
right, but is "contrived to agree with Lysimaehus. Although the
number is wrong, we can be sure it is not too high,
but rather too low. Apion was trying to discredit the Jews and therefore
his incentive was to fabricate a number of the exodus that was lower than
the known number. This makes it pretty certain that there were at least
100,000 Jews in the Exodus. This also helps us reject the false notion
that "elep" means clans because such a false view would peg the
exodus population at no more than about 20,000 who left Goshen. "As for
the number of those that were expelled out of Egypt, he hath contrived to
have the very same number with Lysimaehus, and says they were a hundred and ten thousand." (Josephus,
Against Apion
2)

The first
irrefutable argument against "elep" meaning "clans" is
fact that the ransom difference between the firstborn and the number of
Levites is a precise 273. The firstborn of Israel numbered 22,273 but the
number of Levites numbered 22,000, so a "head tax" had to be
paid for the difference of 273. For those who try to make elep mean clans,
this passage proves them wrong without question. The numbers are so
precise here, that there was a need to pay a special ransom for the 273
extra firstborn of Israel above the number of the Levites. This proves the
numbers are real: "Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel
from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names." Numbers
3:40; "and all the firstborn males by the number of names from a
month old and upward, for their numbered men were 22,273." Numbers
3:43; "For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of
Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites," Numbers 3:46

The
second irrefutable argument against "elep" meaning
"clans" is the collection of money from each male to build the
tabernacle. In Ex 38:24-29, the total silver collection given to the
sanctuary was the sum of a "head tax" of one beka donation from
each of the 603,550 men. The total silver collected was: 100 talents
plus 1,775 shekels. Since a talent equals 6000 bekas and one shekel equals
2 bekas, the total number of bekas is exactly 603,550. The gold and bronze
contributions were not based on a donation from every man, but the silver
was. Total gold given: 29 talents plus 730 shekels (about 2000 lbs
of gold). Total silver given: 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels (about 7500
lbs of silver). Total bronze given: 70 talents and 2,400 shekels (about
5300 lbs of bronze). It is the silver that is directly connected with the
census of Num 1:1-46 and the fact that 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels
exactly equals 603,550 bekas utterly refutes those who try to make elep
mean clans, not the number 1000.

a)"All the gold that was used for the work, in all the work of
the sanctuary, even the gold of the wave offering, was 29 talents and 730
shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. The silver
of those of the congregation who were numbered was 100 talents and 1,775
shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; a beka a head (that is, half
a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for each one who passed
over to those who were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550
men. The hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the
sanctuary and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the hundred
talents, a talent for a socket. Of the 1,775 shekels, he made hooks for the
pillars and overlaid their tops and made bands for them. The bronze of the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400
shekels." (Exodus 38:24-29)

b)"So all the numbered men of the
sons of Israel by their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward,
whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, even all the numbered men were
603,550. The Levites, however, were not numbered among
them by their fathers' tribe." (Numbers 1:45-47)

B. Exodus census populations
given in the bible:

Census
Summary Chart

600,000
men on foot

left
Egypt

Exodus
12:37

600,000
on foot

left
Egypt

Numbers
11:21

603,550
men over 20 years

Mt.
Sinai

Numbers
1:45-46

601,730
males

Jordan
River

Numbers
26:51

When they left Egypt:
"Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 men on foot, aside from children."
Exodus 12:37

Just after leaving Sinai:
"But Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give
them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.'" Numbers 11:21

Census at Mt. Sinai:
"So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers'
households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go
out to war in Israel, even all the numbered men were 603,550." Numbers 1:45-46

Census near the Jordan River: "These are those who were numbered of the
sons of Israel, 601,730." Numbers
26:51

C. The Census of Numbers 1, at
Mt. Sinai: 603,550

"Take
a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families,
by their fathers' households, according to the number of names, every
male, head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to
go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their
armies." Numbers 1:2-3

This was
a headcount of males, able to go to war, over the age of 20 years old.

"able
to go to war" would exclude adult males who are invalids, the sick,
cripples and the lame. On the other hand, they may have been healed by God
my miracle for the purpose of making the exodus journey. Although the
Bible doesn't record any specific miracles of healing the lame in order to
make the exodus, it may have happened.

The
rounding to the nearest 50, is very consistent with numbers in the 50,000
range, we accept them. Clearly there would need to be some estimates made
and the rounding reflects in scientifically responsible way, an
"error bar".

Reuben

46,500

Simeon

59,300

Gad

45,650

Judah

74,600

Issachar

54,400

Zebulun

57,400

Ephraim

40,500

Manasseh

32,200

Benjamin

35,400

Dan

62,700

Asher

41,500

Naphtali

53,400

Total:

603,550

D. The Census of Numbers 26, at
just before crossing the Jordan: 601,730

"Take
a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years
old and upward, by their fathers' households, whoever is able to go out to
war in Israel." Numbers 26:2

This was
a headcount of males, able to go to war, over the age of 20 years old,
like the census of Num 1. Again, it likely did not include men who were
crippled or sick.

The
rounding to the nearest 50, is very consistent with numbers in the 50,000
range, we accept them.

Reuben

43,730

Simeon

22,200

Gad

40,500

Judah

76,500

Issachar

64,300

Zebulun

60,500

Ephraim

32,500

Manasseh

52,700

Benjamin

45,600

Dan

64,400

Asher

53,400

Naphtali

45,400

Total:

601,730

E. The redeeming of the firstborn
and the Levite males: 22,000

The
question comes up about the ratio of the firstborn to the total
population. There were 22,273 firstborn during the first census at Mt.
Sinai and the 601,730 fighting males are over age 20. This also excludes
the old and the lame. It says, "those who can go out to war".

You can
use these two numbers to get an estimate of the family structure including
total number of families with children and average number of children per
family.

If the
firstborn were 22,273 from one month old and up, out of a population of
601,730 age 20 and older, you get a ratio of at least 27:1: "Also
some argue that the 22,273 firstborn of the 12 tribes was an unreasonably
small number since the total population of Israelite men 20 years of age
and older was 603,550 (cf. 1:46). This would yield
a ratio of only about 1 to 27. However, the firstborn of Israel
most likely refers only to those who were born after the tribe of Levi was
established as a sacerdotal unit. The original statement concerning the
firstborn (Ex. 13:11-13) clearly indicates that the implementation of the
command was not retroactive to the Exodus but would come into effect in
the future. That is, only the firstborn males who were born between the
time of the Exodus and the setting apart of Levi about two years later
(Num. 1:1) would be counted. So a total of 22,273 would be in line for
that period of time since there could hardly be more than that number of
families that would give birth to their first sons during that time. (The
Bible knowledge commentary, Num 3)

A ratio
of 27:1 of firstborn males to total males would mean that on average,
there would be 54 children (50% female) born to each family. While the
Hebrews were very productive, and even had a reputation for being more
productive than the Egyptians, this does seem a bit high: "The
midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the
Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife
can get to them."" Exodus 1:19. Such a ratio would turn the
original group of Hebrews that entered Egypt with Joseph, into a
population of 10 million after 430 years.

The
solution is really quite simple: The vast majority of the firstborn had
already been redeemed with the Passover lamb blood that had been wiped on
the doors as part of the 10th plague:
-"'Moreover, they shall take some of the [Passover] blood and put it
on the two door posts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat
it." Exodus 12:7
-"For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will
strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast;
and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments am the Lord.
The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I
see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to
destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:12-13
-"Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on
his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all
the firstborn of cattle." Exodus 12:29

It is
important to remember that if an Israelite failed to put blood on the
door, only the first born would die, not everyone in the house. The
firstborn in Egypt had already been redeemed when they stood at the foot
of Sinai.

This
brings us to our text in Numbers 3:40-51. The firstborn who were born
after the 10th plague and leaving Egypt were 22,273. The time
it took to travel to Sinai was 45 days. They spent 11 months, 5 days
at Sinai. We are told that the total time from leaving Egypt to the time
the census was taken was 13 months: " Then the Lord spoke to Moses in
the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the
second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of
Egypt, saying," Numbers 1:1

The
census of the first born excluded infants less than a month, so in 12
months 22,273 first born children were born.

F. Other numbers that indicate a
large exodus population:

This
section is important because they confirm that the census totals of 600,000 are
correct. Most of the number in this section must be rejected as scribal changes
for those who believe "elep" means "clans". We accept the
numbers below as being what the Holy Spirit originally revealed.

Other
large numbers Summary Chart

22,273

firstborn

Numbers
3:43

22,000

male
Levites

Numbers
3:39

8,580

male
Levites (39-50 yrs)

Numbers
4:45-48

12,000

soldiers
fought Midian

Numbers
31:32-35

32,000

Midian
virgin women

Numbers
31:32-35

40,000

transjordan
tribal soldiers

Joshua
4:12-13

30,000

soldiers
fought Ai

Joshua
8:3

The male
Levites numbered 22,000: "All the numbered men of the Levites, whom
Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the Lord by their families,
every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000." Numbers
3:39

The
firstborn numbered 22,273. That would mean there are at least 22, 273
family units: "all the firstborn males by the number of names from a
month old and upward, for their numbered men were 22,273." Numbers
3:43

The
firstborn of Israel numbered 22,273 but the number of Levites numbered
22,000, so a "head tax" had to be paid for the difference of
273. For those who try to make elep mean clans, this passage proves them
wrong without question. The numbers are so precise here, that there was a
need to pay a special ransom for the 273 extra firstborn of Israel above
the number of the Levites. This proves the numbers are real: "Number
every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward,
and make a list of their names." Numbers 3:40; "and all the
firstborn males by the number of names from a month old and upward, for
their numbered men were 22,273." Numbers 3:43; "For the ransom
of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond
the Levites," Numbers 3:46

While the
male Levites numbered 22,000 the Levites aged 30-50 years old numbered
8,580 men. "These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of
Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the
Lord through Moses. All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and
Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their
fathers' households, from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old,
everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of
carrying in the tent of meeting. Their numbered men were 8,580."
Numbers 4:45-48. Further, the Levites were given 48 cities: "All the
cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities,
together with their pasture lands." Numbers 35:7

12,000
Israelite soldiers to fight against Midian: "So there were furnished
from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand
armed for war." Numbers 31:5. Here is the booty: Notice that Midian
had 32,000 virgin women, which speaks about just how larger Midian was
then Israel: "Now the booty that remained from the spoil which the
men of war had plundered was 675,000 sheep, and 72,000 cattle, and 61,000
donkeys, and of human beings, of the women who had not known man
intimately, all the persons were 32,000. Numbers 31:3-5

The
transjordan tribes had 40,000 warriors who joined the other tribes in the
conquest: "The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe
of Manasseh crossed over in battle array before the sons of Israel, just
as Moses had spoken to them; about 40,000 equipped for war, crossed for
battle before the Lord to the desert plains of Jericho." Joshua
4:12-13

Conquest
of Ai with 30,000 soldiers: "So Joshua rose with all the people of
war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and
sent them out at night." Joshua 8:3

G. Plagues indicate that the
exodus population was very large (1-2 million):

There
are several examples of where God killed large numbers of the Jews because they
were sinning and in rebellion to His revealed moral laws through Moses. 40,700
Jews were killed within the first two years after leaving Egypt. Then another
24,000 just before they entered the promised land. This is most troubling for
those who suggest the entire exodus population was about 20,000. The large
number of deaths are consistent with a very large population.

Plagues
Summary Chart

3000
killed by Levites

Golden
Calf at Sinai

Exodus
32:28

23,000
killed by God

Golden
Calf at Sinai

Exodus
32:35 + 1 Cor 10:8

14,700
killed by God

Kadesh
Barnea

Numbers
16:49

24,000
killed by God

At
Shittim near Jordan

Numbers
25:9

many
people killed by God

Zered
river

Numbers
21:6

At Kadesh
Barnea: "But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those
who died on account of Korah." Numbers 16:49

At
Shittim, just before crossing the Jordan: "Those who died by the
plague were 24,000." Numbers 25:9

Golden
Calf at Sinai: "So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and
about 3000 men of the people fell that day." Exodus 32:28

Golden
Calf at Sinai: "Then the Lord smote the people, because of what they
did with the calf which Aaron had made." Exodus 32:35

Golden
Calf at Sinai: "Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and
23,000 thousand fell in one day." 1 Corinthians 10:8

In the
Zered Wady valley after leaving Kadesh Barnea for the promised land:
"The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the
people, so that many people of Israel died." Numbers 21:6

H. Modern examples of large
crowds in small places:

We
look at the space a modern city of 2.5 million needs and assume that such a
needed large space proves the numbers must be under 20,000. This is wrong for a
number of reasons. We have many modern examples of large crowds in very small
places. You can easily fit 3 million people inside an area of 3 square km.

On July 28, 2003, 800,000
people easily fit into an area of 2.3 square/km to see the Rolling stones.

450,000 people in Downsview Park,
Toronto, Canada (2.3 sq/km)

On July 30, 2003, 450,000
people easily fit into an area of 2.3 square/km to see the Pope.

840,000 people in "The Mall"
Capital Hill, Washington DC is .6 sq/km

October 16, 1995, a crowd of
837,214 people, (20% margin of error), was in "The Mall," an area
of 0.6 square km. (National Park Service, estimate)

Obama's inauguration:

Between 1 and 2 million people
were reported in "The Mall" Capital Hill, Washington DC is .6 sq/km

I. Things to consider about the
amount of room needed:

A.
Since they had the cloud by day and night to protect them as a roof, they could
all sleep open air, yet we know they used tents. However you need to make room
for them to move through the tent city. This means the tents would not be all
back to back but in rows or checker boarded. Either in rows or checkered the
extra space needed is the same: you need twice the space just to be able to
move about through the camp

"This
is what the Lord has commanded, 'Gather of it every man as much as he
should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of
persons each of you has in his tent.'" Exodus 16:16

"When
all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the
tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his
tent." Exodus 33:10

"Now
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the
doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and
Moses was displeased." Numbers 11:10

B.
They had herds of animals that needed room:

You need
to make allowances for flocks. actually Israel ate a lot of their herds
and it was not until the wilderness of sin, day 29 from Goshen. then God
started giving them manna about a week after they crossed the Red Sea.

They
still had flocks and herds at Mt. Sinai: "No man is to come up with
you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; even the flocks and
the herds may not graze in front of that mountain." Exodus 34:3

J. One million Israelites camping
space requirements estimate:

A.
Calculation Method #1:

Allowing
for the one million to be broken down into 250,000 family units of 4
people (two adults, 2 kids) and given a 16 ft X 16 ft. campsite (256 sq.
feet) would equal 64,000,000 sq. feet required. This area could be
obtained in several ways:

a square
of approx. 1.515 miles on a side (8000 feet on each side)

a
rectangle a half mile wide and 4.6 miles long (or semicircular partway
around a mountain)

a
"donut" shaped area around a mountain. This "donut"
has a hole in it 1 mile in diameter for the mountain's base and then a
circular "ring" all the way around the mountain that is half a
mile (~2640 feet) wide all the way around the mountain. The inner
circumference is 3.14 miles and the outer circumference of this circle is
6.22 miles.

Conclusion:
50 square km needed for 3 million people. or a square area of 7 x 7 km.

K. Estimate of area needed based
upon satellite measurements of modern cities:

The
table below was created by measuring the diameter of a population area by
satellite. We zoomed in on a city and measured with the computer, the area by
drawing a circle. It is a crude method, but one that gives an actual, real life
visual.

cities

Population

square
miles

People
per square mile

circle
radius of city, miles

London
Ontario

432,000/80

80

5402

5

Saskatoon
Saskatchewan

225,000

50

4500

4

Regina,
Saskatchewan

192,000

43

4466

3.75

Winnipeg,
Manitoba

671,000

165

4066

7.2

Medicine
Hat, Alberta

61,000

19

3211

2.5

Lethbridge,
Alberta

67,000

23

2913

2.75

Calgary,
Alberta

951,000

317

3000

10

Edmonton,
Alberta

937,000

250

3746

9

Totals
for 8 cities

3,536,000

31304

Average

3913

Rounded

4000 people per square mile

L. Satellite Estimate of 4000
people per square mile applied to various population sizes:

Population
size

4000 people per square mile

square
miles needed

square
km needed

50,000

/4000

12.5

32.38

250,000

/4000

62.5

161.88

500,000

/4000

125

323.75

600,000

/4000

150

388.5

1,000,000

/4000

250

647.5

2,000,000

/4000

500

1295

3,000,000

/4000

750

1942.5

M. Estimate of area needed based
upon Government statistics of modern cities:

The
table below as created using formal government statistic:

cities

Population

area

Actual
density

Winnipeg,
Manitoba

627,000

178

3,640

Calgary,
Alberta

879,000

280

3,250

Edmonton,
Alberta

782,000

340

2,340

St
Catherine's, Ontario

300,000

155

1,950

N. Comparing the two methods of
density population:

(Satellite
vs. government stats)

Cities

Density
from visual satellite measurement

Density
from government stats

Winnipeg,
Manitoba

4066

3,640

Calgary,
Alberta

3000

3,250

Edmonton,
Alberta

3746

2,340

O. Modern Canadian cities density
of Population: (average density of
smaller Canadian cities: 0.0002665 square miles per person)

Cities

Population

square
miles

square
miles per person:

circle
radius of city

London
Ontario

432,000

80

.0001851

5

Saskatoon
Saskatchewan

225,000

50

.0002222

4

Regina,
Saskatchewan

192,000

43

.0002239

3.75

Winnipeg,
Manitoba

671,000

165

.0002459

7.2

Medicine
Hat, Alberta

61,000

19

.0003114

2.5

Lethbridge,
Alberta

67,000

23

.0003432

2.75

Calgary,
Alberta

951,000

317

.0003333

10

Edmonton,
Alberta

937,000

250

.0002669

9

Totals
for 8 cities

3,536,000

0.0021319

Average

0.0002665

P. Using density of smaller
Canadian cities to estimate space needed for exodus Population: (average density of
smaller Canadian cities: 0.0002665 square miles per person)

Population
size

multiplier to square
miles

square
miles needed

50,000
*

.0002665

13

250,000
*

.0002665

67

500,000
*

.0002665

133

600,000
*

.0002665

160

1,000,000
*

.0002665

266

2,000,000
*

.0002665

533

3,000,000
*

.0002665

800

Q. Using density of large cities to
estimate space needed for exodus Population:

There
is a clear trend that the larger the city, the higher the density of the
populations. In other words, very large cities of the world are very densely
populated.

Population

Actual
square miles

actual
radius miles

Pheonix,
Arizona

3,800,000

961

17.5

Minneapolis,
Minnesota

3,300,000

2400

27

Denver,
Colorado

2,600,000

2500

28

Dallas,
Tx

5,819,475

2900

30

Houston,
Tx

5,280,077

5300

40

Amman,
Jordan

2,000,000

69

5.6

R. Using density of New York City
to estimate space needed for exodus Population:

Population

area

density
people per sq mile

New
York city entire areas combined

8,008,278

303

26,402

Manhattan
borough, New York County

1,537,195

22

66,940

New
York County

1,537,195

22

66,940

Kings
County

2,465,326

70

34,916

Bronx
County

1,332,650

42

31,709

Queens
County

2,229,379

109

20,409

Dallas
city

1,188,580

342

3,469

Houston
city

1,953,631

579

3,371

S. Summary chart from of cities
to estimate area needed for a population of 2 million:

As
we can see, the area needed become much larger when the population is smaller.
Larger cities need much smaller areas, in proportion. Of course the area needed
by the Jews under the cloud would be much, much less than in a modern city.

exodus
population

Known
densities of people per square mile for specific cities

area
needed in square miles

A
circle with radius of miles

r
= sqrt(A/ pi)

2,000,000

New
York city /26,400

75.76

9

2,000,000

Dallas
city /3,469

576.54

24

2,000,000

Houston
city /3,371

593.3

24

2,000,000

Winnipeg,
Manitoba /3,640

549.45

23

2,000,000

Calgary,
Alberta /3,250

615.38

25

2,000,000

Edmonton,
Alberta /2,340

854.7

24

2,000,000

St
Catherine's, Ontario /1,950

1,025.64

32

T. "Elep" means 1000's NOT
clans in the census numbers:

The most
common alternate interpretation of
the exodus numbers (for those who think 2 million is a problem) is that
the Hebrew word for "thousands" is "elep" [Strong's
#505] and should be read, "a single Clan of people" not 1000
people by head count. But as we will see, the only way anyone can take
this position is by trashing the reliability of the text of both the Old
and New Testament. It therefore must be rejected.

Using
"clans" results in an exodus population of 5730 men. Using
"thousands" results in an exodus population of about 600,000
men.

There are
times when "elep" means clan, not 1000: "He said to Him,
"O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least
in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." Judges 6:15
But there many more places that "elep" means the number 1000,
not clans. It always means 1000 in the census numbers.

Those who
interpret "elep" as clans are divided in their approach to the
census numbers. Taking Naphtali as an example with 45,400, approach #1
would say it is 45 clans for a total of 400 individuals. (45,400 = 400
actual men from 45 different clans.) Approach #2 says it is 45 clans plus
400 non Hebrews from the "mixed multitude. (Exodus 12:38) Again, the
problem is that the numbers are all rounded off to the nearest hundred.
This is rather imprecise. And it makes nonsense of the stated, "head
by head" count.

This
system of counting by clans in census taking is never found anywhere in
the Bible, but is a modern human invention read back into the text. The
Jews never counted this way. There are no examples in archeology of this
kind of counting.

Also, if
this is supposed to be a "head by head" count, why count clans, then round off the actual headcount of individuals?
It makes no sense!

The
rounding off to the nearest 100 makes better sense if the numbers are
45,400. Here the rounding fits perfectly, although we wonder why it was
rounded off at all for an actual headcount.

One of
the most obvious reasons for rejecting the idea that "elep"
means clans, is because when we apply this formula to the stated grand
total, it doesn't match the sum of the 12 tribes.
Advocates suggest the grand total doesn't match because of scribal changes
in the text. We reject all of this outright and are happy to accept the
numbers as they read in every Bible.

So while
this may be a possible key to solving what appears to be a too large a
population for the exodus, it creates more
problems then is solves. Using this method creates many other huge
discrepancies which is explained by claiming that a scribe changed many of
the texts. This would mean that we cannot really trust our Bible at all
and is completely unacceptable. It also makes mush of the New Testament that
says in one day 23,000 fell in the wilderness. (A number which corresponds
directly in magnitude to the numbers killed in the Old Testament they
claim scribes changed. 23,000 is greater than the entire exodus population
of 20,000 that they propose. So alleged copyist errors in the Old
Testament continue into the New Testament. This is no solution to a
problem that exists only in their mind. We have no problem with a
population of 1-2 million for the exodus. We believe the apostle Paul was
led by the Holy Spirit to record 23,000 men fell in one day at Mt. Sinai.

In conclusion,
we must reject the idea that "elep" means "clans"
because it would seriously call into question the reliability of the text
of both the Old and New Testament. Sometimes we need to just accept what
the Bible says. For example most Jehovah's Witnesses don't know that YHWH
(Jehovah) is never used in the New Testament, even thought their NWT
"Watchtower Bible" inserts the word Jehovah hundreds of times in
the NT. The official Watchtower position is that the New Testament
originally used Jehovah, but that it was removed by later copyists. Of
course there absolutely no proof this is true, (and its not true) but it
really shows that Jehovah's Witnesses really don't trust the textual
integrity of the Bible. Instead, they put all their trust in the
"Watchtower book club" for truth. Likewise, we must accept that
the Old and New Testament clearly indicate an exodus population of 2.5
million Hebrews. (600,000 men)

U. How the "Elep" means
1000's is interpreted in the census numbers:

We reject
the idea that "elep" means "clans". Here is the new
proposed method of interpreting the census information of Numbers, using
the idea that "elep" means "clan", not thousands. The
result is that the number of men is reduced from 601,730, down to 5730.
Advocates of this false view would suggest the total exodus population was
about 20,000.

Notice
that the "elep = clans" method produces a grand total that
doesn't match the sum of the 12 tribes! This is a major problem, which
they resolve only by claiming the grand total was changed by a scribe.
(untrue)

Keep in
mind that there are two calculation methods used by the "elep =
clans" crowd. Method one would interpret Reuben at "43 clans for
a total of 730 individual men" and method two would interpret it as
"43 clans of Jews plus 730 non Jews from the mixed multitude. (Exodus
12:38)

Reuben

43,730 =

43 clans

730
individual men

Simeon

22,200 =

22 clans

200
individual men

Gad

40,500 =

40 clans

500
individual men

Judah

76,500 =

76 clans

500
individual men

Issachar

64,300 =

64 clans

300
individual men

Zebulun

60,500 =

60 clans

500
individual men

Ephraim

32,500 =

32 clans

500
individual men

Manasseh

52,700 =

52 clans

700
individual men

Benjamin

45,600 =

45 clans

600
individual men

Dan

64,400 =

64 clans

400
individual men

Asher

53,400 =

53 clans

400
individual men

Naphtali

45,400 =

45 clans

400
individual men

sum of 12 tribes: Clan
total:

596 clans

5730 individual men

Stated Total:

601,730

601 clans

730 individual men

When
we compare the grand total with the actual sum of the 12 tribes, we find that
that number of clans does not match and the number of individual men is way
off.

V. Refuted Arguments of those
that reject the Bible and want an exodus population less than 1 million:

A. False argument: Too many to fit on the King's Highway. It would be a line of
people 1000 miles long!

Refuted:

"'Please
let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through
vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king's
highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your
territory.' "" Numbers 20:17

It is
argued that fitting the volume of people on the narrow kings highway would
form a continuous line of people 1000 miles long. The answer is simple.
With images of a country road in hometown USA with farmland lining each
side of a two lane highway, critics of the Bible create a false dilemma.
All Moses promised is that he would not cut through their fields or
vineyards. The Kings Highway passes through a broad wide plain. This
highway had no curbs or telephone poles lining the sides. The kings
highway did not have a dotted yellow dividing line on it. It had no paving
stones, like in later Roman roads. It was a general path with a wide
swath.

Amazingly,
the exodus route from Egypt to Mt. Sinai had only one section where the
Bible says they had to "Journey in
stages" (Ex
17:1) because of
narrow terrain between the Wilderness of
Sin and the Wilderness of Sinai. With the small numbers proposed by
opponents of the Bible, such "Journey in stages" would never be
needed. It is noteworthy that this small section of terrain is the only
place that was not a wide open plain. The eastern shore of the Gulf of
Suez (see Succoth)
and the Wilderness
of Shur in North Saudi Arabia are wide open plains.

B. False argument: Organizational hierarchy too small: If there were a million
people, Jethro would have said, 10 thousands, thousands and Hundreds.

"Furthermore,
you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth,
those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as
leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens." Exodus
18:21. Of course this may be clans, not actual head count.

Refuted:

We are
surprised that those who read "clans" instead of
"thousands" would not answer their own objection by applying
"clans" here.

Remember
that each tribe had a single tribal representative and then there were 70
elders who ruled as well.

If we
take it at face value: This means that the actual organization was: Moses,
12 tribal leaders, 70 elders, 3000 over 1000's, 60,000 over 50's and
300,000 over 10's. Those over tens would probably be closely equate to the
married men with wives and children. In other worlds the smallest
organizational unit was the husband/father of each family. Those over the
50's would simply be the patriarch of a single "clan". A simple
announcement could be made to the effect that all husbands and patriarchs
were leaders.

We see no
problem taking the numbers literally. This organizational system worked
for 400 years between Joshua and Saul, before they had a king. Perhaps the
high priest came to replace Moses as the top of the organization, or
perhaps one of the "Judges".

C. False argument: 2 million Marching around the tiny town of Jericho is absurd:

Refuted:

Having
been to ancient Jericho, it is indeed a rather small city.

Bible
doubters suggest it is odd that 2 million would encircle the 3000 people
who lived in Jericho in a ring around the city. We see no problem with
this. Remember 3 million people can fit in an area of less than 1 square
mile, as is seen in many modern examples today in the USA and Canada.

These
same Bible scoffers suggest that the huge advantage would make marching
around the city unnecessary since they could just take the city by the
force. But that is the whole point God was trying to make. Even when they
had such an advantage, God fought their wars for them.

The Bible
does not actually say how many encircled the city, only that "the
people" marched. This might imply the whole two million or simply
that non-military , women and children may have joined the march.

D. False argument: How could 2 million hear Moses talk, it must have been a far
smaller crowd:

Refuted:

This
objection is equally valid for 2 million, 20,000 or even 5000 people. Scripture
is not intending to say that everyone in the audience would hear the natural
voice of Moses, but that Moses directed his words to the entire congregation.

"It
came about as Aaron spoke to the whole
congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the
wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud."
Exodus 16:10

"And
it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the
entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the
tent." Exodus 33:8

"Then
Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons
of Israel, and said to them, "These are the things that the
Lord has commanded you to do:" Exodus 35:1

"Speak
to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and
say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am
holy." Leviticus 19:2

"Thus
Korah assembled all the congregation against them
at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the Lord
appeared to all the congregation." Numbers 16:19

"Take
the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble
the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it
may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the
rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink." Numbers 20:8

"There
was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel
with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among
them." Joshua 8:35

E. False argument: The 22,000 Levites should have been able to kill more than 3000
men. Shouldn't they have been able to kill many more if they numbered 22,000?

Refuted:

3000 men
is a huge slaughter and actually hurts the case for those who think the
exodus population was only 5,000 or 20,000.

This line
of reasoning is highly speculative: We don't know the exact number of
Levites that were actually involved in the killing. We don't know if God
stopped them early on in their killing. We don't know if they just went
out and killed any man they saw or if they were looking only for the
principle leaders who were involved in the Golden calf or immorality.
Perhaps God directed them who to kill. Perhaps only the prime offenders
were killed. There are a long list of speculative reasons why 50,000
Levites only killed 3000 men.

"All
the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the
command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and
upward, were 22,000." Numbers 3:39

"Thus
says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you [Levites] put
his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the
camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every
man his neighbor.'" So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and
about three thousand men of the people fell that day." Exodus
32:27-28

F. False argument: How could the Aaron and his 4 sons serve a population of 2 million
that would have hundreds of daily births, deaths and the need for ritual
sacrifices?

Refuted:

Aaron had
four sons: "These then are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the
firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." Numbers 3:2

Moses
instructed them to show themselves to any priest,
not specifically one of the four son's of Aaron: "'When the days of
her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of
meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon
or a turtledove for a sin offering." Leviticus 12:6

Any of
the possible 22,000 Levites could help in these duties, not just Aaron and
his four sons.

"All
the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the
command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and
upward, were 22,000." Numbers 3:39

But we
also notice that the number of the firstborn approximately equaled the
number of male Levite priests and that there was a need to pay a special
ransom for the 273 extra firstborn above the number of the Levites. This
indicates the numbers are real: "Number every firstborn male of the
sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their
names." Numbers 3:40; "and all the firstborn males by the number
of names from a month old and upward, for their numbered men were
22,273." Numbers 3:43; "For the ransom of the 273 of the
firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the
Levites," Numbers 3:46

In the
end, each individual family unit would have its very own priest at its
sole and private disposal! Sounds like God had it all under control! Now
that is religion with a grass roots personal touch. Christians today don't
get one preacher per family, but Jews got one priest per family for their
personal use!

G. False argument: The population of the Middle east could not be 35 million, given
Israel was smaller than the 7 nations they drove out of the promised land!

Refuted:

This
objection to Israel being 2 million is based upon the fact that they were
smaller then the 7 other nations living in the promised land before they
drove them out and possessed the land.

"When
the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to
possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the
Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the
Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater
and stronger than you," Deuteronomy 7:1 ""Hear, O
Israel! You are crossing over the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you,
great cities fortified to heaven,"
Deuteronomy 9:1 "then the Lord will drive out all these nations from
before you, and you will dispossess nations
greater and mightier than you." Deuteronomy 11:23 "
"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and
chariots and people more numerous than you,
do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from
the land of Egypt, is with you." Deuteronomy 20:1 Report of the Spies: ""Nevertheless,
the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and
very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there."
Numbers 13:28

Perhaps
we should just accept this as a fact, rather than question it.

On the
other hand, it may be that the sum of the seven nations were greater than
Israel (ie all 7 numbered 5 million) rather than each of the seven nations
that were individually greater than the 2 million of Israel.

Remember
also that many of these nations, likely had control centers outside the
promised land and their area overlapped into the formal promised land.

So the
population of the promised land could be projected to be 35 million or 5
million depending on what the expression "larger than you"
means.

Conclusion:

The
population of the exodus was 600,000 men, excluding women and children.
This would give us a grand total "head count" of between 1.5-2.5
million Hebrews who left Egypt.

An exodus
population of 2.5 million causes no problems for space, since we have seen
that large modern crowds can fit into very small places. While modern
cities are far larger an area then the Exodus used, God huddled them under
the cloud by miracle for protection.

We must
reject outright, the false idea that "elep" means "clans"
instead of the number "1000'. It trashes the reliability of the text
of the Bible. All Bible translators render it 1000, not clans, and we see
no reason to change it.

The
redemption of the firstborn in Numbers 3:40-46 utterly trashes those who
vainly attempt to bring the population of the exodus down to a few
thousand from 3 million. The firstborn of Israel numbered 22,273 but the
number of Levites numbered 22,000, so a "head tax" had to be
paid for the difference of 273. This difference proves the numbers are to
be interpreted, just as they appear in our bible.

The head
tax of silver for the tabernacle in Exodus 38:24-29 proves the numbers
are real as they read in the Bible and not to be reinterpreted using a
formula that elep is a clan, rather than the number 1000. The total
silver collected was: 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels. Since a talent
equals 6000 bekas and one shekel equals 2 bekas, the total number of
bekas is exactly 603,550. This proves that each of the 603,550 men
counted in the census each gave one beka for a total of 603,550 or one
beka per man. This kind of precision utterly refutes the idea that elep
is a clan, as used in these numbers.

There is
really no valid reason why we should question or reject the many clear and
precise statements that there were 600,000 men (excluding women and
children) who left Egypt. We have successfully refuted any counter
arguments.

There is
nothing in archeology that would cause us to question that the exodus
population was 1.5 - 2.5 million.

God
created the world in 6 literal 24 hour days. Noah built an ark for the
global flood to house the animals God brought to him. Jonah was 3 days in
the belly of a sea monster. Jesus rose from the dead after three days.
There are 2.5 million Jews who left Egypt for the exodus. The Bible is
God's inspired word. Trust it!